Giants trade for Jake Peavy

SAN FRANCISCO -- Even with six days remaining until Major League Baseball's trade deadline, Giants general manager Brian Sabean felt he was running out of time. Right-hander Matt Cain was examined again Friday, and the prognosis was troubling, so Sabean moved quickly to acquire right-hander Jake Peavy from the Boston Red Sox.

"It was a lot about timing," Sabean said Saturday. "And a lot about the sense of urgency."

Sabean said Cain isn't "responding to the protocols that our orthopedic people are checking on." The longest-tenured Giant was placed on the disabled list Monday with elbow inflammation, and sources say the number of bone chips in his pitching elbow "is significant." Sabean couldn't commit to Cain's pitching again this season, saying he is following the lead of the organization's medical team.

"The longer he goes in this dormant stage, the more we're probably going to have to seek second opinions or more diagnostics, and thus the timeline gets stretched out, or there may be a worst case," Sabean said. "We haven't gotten to that point yet. The impetus to act as quickly as we did (with Peavy) was we really felt that (Cain) is going to be out for a while no matter what, and we didn't want to stay as constituted."

Peavy, 33, will take Yusmeiro Petit's spot in the rotation and make his Giants debut Sunday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants and Red Sox first spoke about 10 days ago, and Sabean said the path was cleared once the Red Sox agreed to pay all but $2 million of the approximately $5 million left on Peavy's deal. The Giants sent pitching prospects Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree to Boston and optioned reliever George Kontos back to Triple-A Fresno to clear a roster spot.

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The savings allow Sabean to maintain financial flexibility as the deadline approaches, and he remains on the hunt for a second base upgrade, although he said there aren't enough options on the market. In a tough market for buyers, the Giants are thrilled they were able to pick up Peavy, a former All-Star under Bochy in San Diego.

"Jake and I have a long-standing relationship," Bochy said. "I've always admired how he plays the game. He's all-out, he's full-bore in anything he does. He's a guy you want on your club."

The Giants in recent months had eight scouts watch Peavy. They loved what they saw, despite his 1-9 record and 4.72 ERA. Peavy had given up a league-high 20 homers, and the Giants believe he should benefit greatly from a move to AT&T Park.

"They all recommended that we trade for him," Sabean said. "He's still a solid fourth starter in the big leagues."

Peavy won the N.L. Cy Young Award in 2007 but hasn't pitched in the league since 2009. He arrived in the late innings Saturday and said he's excited to be back in a tight race.

"A guy in my situation, this is what you show up to do at the beginning of the year -- win a World Series," Peavy said. "This team knows how to get it done and has guys that have done it before."

Bochy believes a return to the N.L. West will be a big boost for Peavy.

"Like all pitchers, yeah, he probably doesn't quite throw as hard, but he's still 92 (mph), in that area, and has a good breaking ball and changeup," Bochy said. "He has that fire, and that's the most important thing. He's as tough a competitor as any pitcher or player I've ever had -- that's how hard he goes for you."